Hyundai Creates Stir In American Market

May 25, 1986|By John Hicks of the Sentinel Staff

What's new in the American import-car market, was designed by Italians, has an engine and transmission developed by the Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi, is manufactured in Korea and is priced to sell? Another clue, although it probably won't help: The name of this mysterious product rhymes, roughly, with ''Sunday.''

Give up? It's the Hyundai, the new econocar that is making the biggest stir in this country since the introduction of the Yugoslavian Fiat-derived Yugo, and for a similar reason: low cost. Base price on the Hyundai three- model line begins at about $5,000, and the test car, a middle-of-the-line Excel GL supplied by Metro Hyundai, of Orlando, was stickered at $7,873.

Those who are unfamiliar with the present pricing situation, might feel their hearts fluttering at the thought of an $8,000 imported economy car. However in today's market, where American buyers are spending an average $13,000 or so for a new car, a product in the $5,000 to $8,000 range is, hopefully, a revitalizing breath of air. I say ''hopefully'' because the Hyundai is, for U.S. buyers, an unknown quantity -- although Canadians, who have had two years to mispronounce its name, have made it a best seller north of the border.

If, because the car is made in Korea, the consumer expects something entirely different, said consumer will search hard and long for said difference. Although neatly enough conceived -- by the Italian group Ital Design -- with wedgy nose and short, boxy tail, Excel is no more visually exciting than any of a number of Japanese imports.

You can aim for the low-end cost, with the base Excel model, or for the upper end, with the Excel GLS model (price range $6,545 to $8,200); but the fact remains that Hyundais, with their 68-horsepower, 1.5-liter engines, have been designed as basic transportation. They accelerate quickly enough to keep pace with freeway traffic, they handle reasonably well, with the aid of rack- and-pinion steering, and their power-assisted, front-disc, rear-drum brakes hold them in check adequately.

Just do not buy a Hyundai expecting a rocket-car on the order, say, of the turbocharged Mitsubishi-Dodge-Plymouth Colt-Mirage, although the basic engines are similar. For the time being, Hyundai's main purpose seems to be getting as many Americans as possible from point to point cheaply. The test car, with five-speed manual transmission, sported EPA mileage figures of 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

The fuel-saving transmission of the test car operated easily, except for occasional reluctance to engage reverse, and the clutch was light and positive in action. Overall, Excel was as easy to drive as other Oriental autos, although engine noise and vibration during hard acceleration considerably undercut the car's general smoothness.

Excel rides on a fully independent coil-spring suspension that has a stabilizer bar at either end. This suspension handled the jolts fairly well on hard pavement and during a short jaunt over a dirt road, transmitting little vibration and noise to the interior. However, the car isn't much of a handler on a twisting road, and it takes work with the non-power steering to get around a corner quickly and in good order.

Design, as noted, is neat, if modest, and workmanship on the test car -- including the metallic-silver paint -- seemed of decent quality. Excel has aircraft-styled doors with wrap-over tops, and concealed drip rails, giving it a contemporary aerodynamic touch. One negative exterior note: a tacky vertical body seam at the top of each rear wheel arch.

Inside, the test car's two-tone gray cloth-and-vinyl upholstery looked serviceable and durable, and dashboard and trim appeared well-put-together. The front bucket seats were supportive and contoured enough for straight-ahead driving, and the rear bench, while it has seat belts for three, will be more comfortable for two. The trunk is on the small side, so if you pack heavy, better take a look at the hatchback model.

If the Hyundai Excel's following grows as quickly as its maker anticipates -- and if its service records build consumer faith -- it could turn out to be just what the working man and woman need: a car they can afford.